Source:  Christine Steffens, MEATINGPLACE.COM, 9/27/10

Poultry certified wholesome during August 2010 (ready-to-cook weight) totaled 3.73 billion pounds, up 6 percent from the amount certified in August 2009.

The agency revised its July 2010 estimate of certified poultry to 3.58 billion pounds, up 32.1 million pounds from last month's preliminary pounds certified, and down 2 percent from July 2009.

The preliminary total live weight of poultry inspected during August 2010 was 4.96 billion pounds, up 6 percent from 4.70 billion pounds a year ago. Young chickens inspected totaled 4.27 billion pounds, up 6 percent from August 2009. Mature chickens, at 75.1 million pounds, were up 6 percent from the previous year. Turkey inspections totaled 603 million pounds, up 4 percent from a year ago, and ducks totaled 14.0 million pounds, up 13 percent from a year ago.

Young chickens slaughtered during August 2010 averaged 5.57 pounds per bird, up slightly from August 2009. The average live weight of mature chickens was 5.91 pounds per bird, up 2 percent from a year ago.

 Turkeys slaughtered during August 2010 averaged 28.0 pounds per bird, down 1 percent from August 2009.
Ante-mortem condemnations during August 2010 totaled 14.2 million pounds. Condemnations were 0.29 percent of the live weight inspected, as compared with 0.26 percent a year earlier. Post-mortem condemnations, at 34.0 million pounds, were 0.90 percent of quantities inspected, as compared with 0.97 percent a year earlier.

August 2010 contained 22 weekdays and 4 Saturdays, while August 2009 had 21 weekdays and 5 Saturdays.

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